I know people like to believe that being an athlete is the end all be all of someone’s self-worth, but that isn’t true for everyone. Sadly it is true for many athletes, and I think that is what leads to problems after their careers are over. One thing about Antonio Brown that I feel saved him after what happened with the Bucs is that there are many people outside of sports media who actually relate to him and care about him as a person.
Over the last couple of weeks, that has allowed him not to dwell on what happened with the Bucs and sort of keep moving forward.
AB is an extremely talented wide receiver, and nothing suggests that in the right situation, he could easily still put up monster numbers even at the age of 33. However, if his NFL career is over, you get the feeling he is still going to be in the public’s eye.
At the moment, he is a hot commodity. That is the funny thing about media. The people they claim to hate are the ones they want to talk to the most.
Here is AB talking to Complex about his next moves with Kanye and the NFL.
Are you still thinking about your football career, too, right? You’re trying to return next season?
Yeah. I’m a football player, man. I’m a professional athlete. Let’s not get that twisted. That’s my main thing. But right now, what I do with music is what I do when I’m not playing. So once I’m able to get my surgery and get cleaned up, hopefully the album will already be out. I’ll be able to sit down on a routine and do what I need to do to get myself the opportunity to play again.
Have you been talking with any teams?
Yeah, a couple teams called.
What’s it been like spending so much time with Kanye?
We’re just excited about the Donda sports brand, and making this thing a competitive sports brand to the athletes. I don’t think there’s a lot of fashion lines for athletes, wearing fashionable and comfortable clothes, so with a guy like Kanye West, being able to partner with him and work with him to provide more creative, genius ideas for fashion looks for athletes in general… I’m just grateful for the opportunity here soon, to share what we’ve got with the world. And you guys are hearing it first, we got some exciting things to look forward to this year.
Have you guys made music together? Anything for Donda 2 or for your album?
We’ve got some stuff coming, so be sure to get that. Donda 2’s coming; be sure to look for that. Himmothy 2 is coming as well.
Do you have a favorite memory from the past few weeks, making music?
Yeah, I was in the studio with Ye. He was finishing his verse and then he started asking for some bars, like, “Who got bars?” I’m like, “Yo, that’s your job. That ain’t my job to have no bars.” [Laughs.] It was pretty funny. Ye is really a down to earth guy, humble guy. You know, just being in the studio with him, and he’s asking me for bars and listening to my bars… [Laughs.]
Sports media will try to keep AB out of the NFL, but if we are being honest, there are worst people in the NFL than AB (go read up on Tyreek Hill’s history), so if a team wants to bring him aboard, no one should have an issue with that.
Flip the page for the debut of his official music video “Pit Not The Palace.”